Yankees send Burdi to IL; call up Morris, activateTrammell

19/04/2024 21:35

New York's standout reliever from spring heads to the IL with right hip inflammation.

Prior to tonight's series opener against the Rays, the Yankees announced a series of roster moves. They are sending Nick Burdi to the 15-day IL (retroactive to April 17th) with right hip inflammation, recalling reliever Cody Morris from Triple-A to take his place in the bullpen while also adding recent waiver claim Taylor Trammell to the active roster.

It's an unfortunate blow for Burdi, who had been the standout non-roster invitee reliever during spring training and won a spot in the 'pen. It's another injury on the laundry list of ailments the hard-throwing righty has suffered throughout his career — he became just the second pitcher in history to return to a MLB mound after undergoing two Tommy John surgeries and thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Burdi had been very good in his first seven relief appearances for the Yankees, striking out eight in 6.1 innings without allowing a run (though he did walk five).

Burdi had filled the Chad Green-esque role in the bullpen, often coming in as a fireman armed with a fastball that often touched triple-digits and a nasty sweeping slider, and we wish him a speedy recovery from this latest injury.

To take his place in the bullpen, New York is recalling Morris from Triple-A. He doesn't throw as hard as Burdi, instead relying on a four-pitch mix of four-seamer, cutter, curveball, and changeup to get batters out. He has a 1.93 ERA in four appearances at Triple-A, albeit with an elevated walk rate, issuing six free passes in 9.1 innings. The Yankees traded Estevan Florial to acquire Morris from the Guardians, for whom he had a 3.41 ERA and 5.30 FIP across 13 appearances totaling 31.2 innings over the last two seasons.

As for the final player mentioned in the news release, New York claimed the outfielder Trammell off waiver from the Dodgers on Thursday — designating Kevin Smith for assignment to make room on — and now he gets an opportunity in the Bronx. Trammell was one of the higher-profile cases of a top prospect failing to fulfill their potential, getting drafted by 35th overall by the Reds in 2016 and placing among the top-50 overall prospects on various publications' rankings over the next three years. However, he has since been traded from the Reds to the Padres to the Mariners over the last four seasons and has never established a foothold in the big leagues, slashing .165/.266/.361 with a 79 wRC+ and 37.3-percent strikeout rate in 121 MLB games.

In a separate injury update, DJ LeMahieu was supposed to begin a rehab assignment in Double-A Somerset tonight, but when their lineup was revealed on Twitter, he wasn't in it. That's because a recent MRI indicated that his injured foot hasn't healed quite enough.

The Yankees are now targeting Tuesday for the beginning of LeMahieu's rehab assignment, but until he actually takes the field, his 2024 season will remain in limbo.